Nope: The Rise of Existential Horror

[@emllyhope]

theres a reason the screams sound like themepark ride screams! peele told the actors to first scream like they were on a roller coaster and then scream like they were about to get murdered. then the screams were then blended together to create the haunting sound we hear in the movie!

[@orterves]

Those geometric angels and aliens give the feeling of a 4-dimensional being passing through our 3-dimensional world, something almost unfathomable to our brains, and utterly terrifying

[@kimberlyfraher9588]

i love this interpretation

[@killa9464]

Ppppp

[@kellywalker1664]

It was a cartoon, but Bill Cypher was a 1D demon. It's also worth mentioning Jim Woodring's angels in the 1990s.

[@davidlafleche1142]

The Bible says there is no life in outer space.

[@orterves]

@@davidlafleche1142 well first of all, through God all things are possible - so jot that down

[@hansenriquez1810]

I like those theories that said that Jean Jacket wasn't an alien, we just think that because of decades of pop culture conditioning us to think that the traditional flying saucer design is "alien." Instead, Jean Jacket is a cryptid or a long forgotten animal that might've been the basis for the biblically accurate angels.

[@GIRGHGH]

Aside from it's appearance and way of flight, it really does act like any other earth animal. If you can separate yourself from the alien assumptions, there's really no reason to believe it's extraterrestrial at all.

[@davidlafleche1142]

The Bible says there is no life in outer space.

[@GIRGHGH]

@@davidlafleche1142 I'm pretty sure, that it's just not a subject in it.

[@PrimerCinePodcast]

Woa like that idea

[@davidlafleche1142]

@@GIRGHGH The Lord Jesus Christ said, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15,KJV). Thus, Earth is the only world with creatures on it.

[@sonorasgirl]

I think Nope is 100% underrated. I loved his others, but this is honestly my favorite of his. Also love the acknowledgment that biblically accurate angels aren’t cute babies, but sh*t your pants monstrosities who have to tell everyone to stop being scared

[@Athermostar]

Biblically accurate angels are not even biblically accurate, they do just generally look like people

[@LsdRaccoon]

@@Athermostarthere’s different levels of angels, some look human, some look lovecraftian

[@5thgen691]

My favorite part was Keke palmers Akira slide! I stood up screaming when that happened! Like what!!? 😂

[@rottensquid]

It's a relevant reference too, as Akira is definitely about existentialism.

[@church6882]

It’s nice knowing that Peele also wanted to do it in a movie for the longest time lmao

[@nathanlarson9066]

This is the shit I needed injected right in my veins this morning, thank you. We are so lucky to have a dude like Peele who is giving representation to the people who have been underrepresented. I love your breakdown and take on Nope. Thanks for the amazing content! Keep up the good work.

[@travissoff9521]

Omg. Can I get a dime of that quality stuff.

[@SoundaSheep]

I didn't expect Uzumaki to come up in your discussion of Nope, but I'm glad it did! You made some great observations

[@theantibulliranger1580]

Idk if someone else brought this up, but at 6:40 I’ve seen in another video that the idea behind what’s essentially Jean Jacket’s “mouth” flaring like that is to make it look something like a camera with a shutter, thus fitting the theme of spectacle. The maw that sends you to your doom when you look at it looks like the thing you’re supposed to look if you want to record something memorable. There’s also some irony in the balloon being a simile of Jupe, the movie’s poster child for being exploited for spectacle, being the target of Jean Jacket’s mouth (and ultimately what destroys it). Incidentally, the mention of JJ’s victims sounding like they’re on a rollercoaster fits with how they did the sound design (which is likely why you brought it up). Great essay btw, loved the mention of Uzumaki and the look at other inspirations for the movie.

[@lostvarius]

That's supposed to be its eye, not mouth

[@I_Dont_Believe_In_Salad]

Green Square it's actually it's Eye so basically it's blinking in square patterns to make it's prey stay still

[@revelare_xvii6269]

It’s actually speculated that Jean Jacket has to be in its UFO form to eat. The huge sheets on its sides form a layered stomach that secrete digestive juices.

[@RakeV8]

that's an eye

[@Dilapidated_Dilo]

Those were it's eyelashes it was flashing

[@CozieGhosty]

I'm glad you used the clip of Ramiel screaming. It's my favorite.

[@Primordial_Soup]

Nope has become one of my all-time favorite films and Jean Jacket one of my all-time favorite monsters in a very short period of time. And one of the really interesting things about Peele and his crew making their "Flying Saucer" an animal instead of a spacecraft is that its not the first time that UFOs have been proposed to be organic. Cryptozoologist Ivan T. Sanderson in his book "Uninvited Visitors" suggested that UFOs weren't aliens but biological organisms called Atmospheric Beasts which are lighter than air and exist in the upper atmosphere feeding on aeroplankton. While I don't believe in cryptids or extraterrestrial visitors myself, I find the folklore and mythos around them fascinating. So when I saw Nope and realized that the "UFO" was essentially an Atmospheric Beast, I knew I was going to love the film. I loved the dynamic between Em and OJ, I loved the sound design and score, I loved how the film treated "spectacle", and more than anything else I loved how the film addressed animals and how humans exploit them - along with the fact that the characters who didn't respect Jean Jacket as an animal fell victim to it, while those who learned to understand it through that lens managed to overcome and survive it.

[@juniecw]

Man I KNEW that Jean Jacket had to be inspired by Evangelion!! When it started morphing itself into different forms I was like “damn y’all better get in your Evas”

[@ragmamale4783]

OMG DUDEE PEELE HIMSELF KNOWS EVA❓❗❓❗ KNEW JJ IS BASICALLY EVA BUT OMGGGG

[@brittonsings3243]

Thanks to this video, I JUST noticed that at 18:40 when both Em and Angel are using the VR systems and OJ is sitting on his own, it’s a representation of how both of them are living in the spectacle reality, and that both of them still believe they have something to gain whereas OJ does not.

[@Tricksterbelle]

Gorgeously put essay. I'm still personally fascinated with the setting of Lancaster County in CA. it's only about 40 minutes away from downtown LA and feels completely alien to it. it makes me think about the entire ecosystem sustained by the film industry (including themed entertainment that adapts their ideas) and how most of that ecosystem doesn't see the same amount of profit relative to its contributions like producers and directors. perfect setting

[@dawson3776]

I think that's part of the film y'know, there's a brief acknowledgement in the movie

[@chromaticswing9199]

Oh dope, I live nearby! It was crazy to hear the ranch was located in Agua Dulce. I was like dude! I could go there right now and get vacuumed by a lovecraftian monster haha

[@lotsofuwuenergy3983]

Lancaster County? 😂 I know what you mean but we're not a county we're a small city

[@jackrogers5712]

Great video. I definitely had an "Evangelion moment" when Jean Jacket transforms into its true form at the climax. It's utterly alien, yet beautiful and terrifying at the same time. The music also added a lot to the scene. Nope is one of my favorite recent monster movies. I hope we get to see more of Jordan Peele's take on the classic creature feature.

[@ragmamale4783]

exactly, Jean Jacket is literally Evangelion angel

[@BreadBasketBaker]

The scenes when u are inside Jean jacket was the scariest part for me The rest I was just so intrigued by Jean

[@tartoflan]

Atmospheric Beasts are very barely exploited cryptozoological creatures. It's very cool to see a movie featuring one

[@TheVojvoda]

God those screams and the scenes of the people being digested are fucking nightmare inducing.

[@israelch100]

I just watched Nope this week and was looking for an essay about it on KZbin, thank you so much for the vid. I´m happy that I caught the Akira and Evangelion influences in this movie.

[@Stroheim333]

Everyone who believe Nope is some kind of masterpiece, is a naive, suggestible child. Already the title "Nope" is embarrassing. And a normal viewer should be suspicious already when, in the end of the first act, it turns out that the "tail" hanging from the alleged UFO is depris stuck in the ass from something the monster has eaten...

[@williampearson6299]

@@Stroheim333 Don't be a hater

[@Stroheim333]

@@williampearson6299 The hater is you, of course -- pretending that everyone who criticize a movie by a black director must be a _racist._ There we have pure ideological stupidity.

[@williampearson6299]

@@Stroheim333 You're ignorant. For all of 2015 and post-MeToo, incels and nerds have been crying about Mary Sues and low quality virtue signaling. This movie is an ode to classic cinema as Jordan Peele has constructed a cinematic piece using devices of classic filmmakers. Even better is Kiki Palmer's not a Mary Sue but a character. I appreciate this level of representation while telling a great story we haven't seen.

[@I_Dont_Believe_In_Salad]

@@Stroheim333 Oh hey it's you Darling, doing your best on Copy paste the same exact comment.

[@Scweetoof]

As I grew a real love for existential Horror and Cosmic Horror, I believe it’s the scariest but most intriguing kinds. Hellstar Remina by Junji Ito genuinely made me feel dread the first time I read it because, what would do in that situation? What can you do? Nothing. Annihilation, and anything Lovecraft get me as well. Jordan is a visionary.

[@rachelfox8108]

Absolutely! I've been a fan of Ito and cosmic horror for a while, and Annihilation is another one on my to-watch list.

[@klatchabobby]

Nope was so much better than people think it is. I like it far beyond Get Out. Get Out's premise doesn't hold up for me in subsequent watches which, to me, is the sign of a bad premise. If I can't enjoy the film because I know what's going to happen, I'm checking out. Nope doesn't do that. I've seen it twice and got no less enjoyment watching it the second time because my enjoyment of it didn't hinge upon "mystery of the unknown."

[@chloegrobler4275]

the irony for the end of the video to be a call to action, for a service that sells spectacle.

[@clbdyc]

When Jupe says, 1 hour from now your lives will be changed forever, the movie ends in real time 1 hour from then.

[@zabeerfarid7687]

I personally would love to see more qc videos on Jordan Peele’s other movies

[@cht350]

The interesting thing about the octahedral Angel in Evangelion is that in the show the design was limited by production, but in the Rebuild movie they were able to use the larger budget and advances in technology to make it look more alien, especially when it fired its beam.

[@grantosborn5906]

Quality culture, this narrator especially, never misses.

[@koflynn2159]

After the UFO revealed that it ate people my thought for a review was: 'Heart: pounding, expectations: subverted'.

[@jasons9879]

Your videos are just as lovingly crafted and presented as all the art you guys choose to analyze! Kudos to this channel-- Bravo!! Subscribed on Patreon and excited to see where this goes :)

[@WutTheFink]

This channel deserves more attention. These analyses are so insightful and the videos are really well made

[@jessm229]

this movie disturbed me so deeply, i did not go to sleep the night i watched it until 5 am, and i had to turn on all lights for about 2 weeks after i watched it. tbh a few months later i still keep gettin a little jumpy if im in the dark too long... 10/10 will never watch again.

[@flux.aeterna]

Appreciate the depth of analysis, understanding of references, connections to other media. I really enjoy how you point out the parallel between Jean Jacket’s final form and a Rorsarch test

[@c.morland]

Thanks. It's a beautiful film. The sound scaping was amazing. The real animal recordings really made it work.

[@miaw5102]

"Jupe thought he was special, thought he was the main character" oh my god Jupe was in a whole other movie that started before OJ's movie did, and ended before OJ's movie did

[@VamshiOhgs]

I am working on a video about this film and you brought up certain similar aspects that i had in mind and was pondering about when i first watched Nope, this gave me more insight on certain elements that i was trying to jot down, awesome work!!

[@knitty781]

Nice essay. I love that KZbin gives an opportunity for more in depth study of anything. And finding out more about Nope has really showed me that the video essay is a great opportunity to get your ideas out in the world. I sometimes wonder, though, about the 'alien' part of the creature. Many sea creatures move in a similar way. A feathered sea star or lion fish have similar posturing mechanisms. Except for the square, though. And there is so much land that is unsettled and wild, so I wonder if some of the otherness of the creature is finding it and not recognizing it as something from this planet that has not been encountered by a living human. I live on a family farm right outside of a medium sized town. We always have animals coming to our farm because of the development around us. They simply have nowhere else to go. As for Jean Jacket, perhaps part of it is the not having a place to hunt any longer, that the natural hunting ground of the creature is gone. It would be terrifying, as in Jaws, to consider this creature is not the only one of its kind on this planet.

[@Biancainez]

I just found your chanel and I am so grateful I found this video when I did. I've been struggling getting myself to start writing my horror novel again. I hadn't been able to figure out the how and why so I kinda just stoped. Your video so inspired me that I paused it and wrote a page for the first time in two years. Thank you.

[@TheLongestTake]

Nope is Jordan Peele's magnum opus there is SO MUCH I love about it

[@RampidWarthogStudios]

Peele is such a great film maker. Love his creativity. And his amazing team.

[@anthonyjfynvmb5275]

I truly love your take on this. I’ve watched many videos and I find your view on the movie very unique but yet it’s very logical and it’s a very good point. you did an amazing video by the way.

[@pixelkat1819]

Well directed, well acted, technically superb…and the dude playing Angel a total stud and super easy on the eyes.

[@fairiewinterbee]

you said "almost sounded like they were on a roller coaster ride" IS FUNNY BECAUSE PEELE HAD THE ACTORS DO TAKES OF THEM SCREAMING AS IF THEY WERE ON A ROLLERCOASTER!!! AND THEN DID OTHER TAKES AS IF THEY WERE BEING MURDERED!!! IDK IF THAT WAS REFERENCE OR U R JUST SPOT ON - I for real love that about this movie so much , jordan is a genius horror director s2g

[@jamesmullen2231]

That was a really good analysis, I greatly appreciate the way you laid out the references and influences; very thought provoking

[@karkatshipper8383]

10:00 fun fact it should sound like a roller coster ride. for the sound design they had the people scream like on a fun roller coster and then in terror. they would bend the two and that's the sound they used for when they got sucked up, or when Oj heard then in the distance. I'm impress ya got the NASA investigation about the AUP/UFO declassified. but honestly watching everything about this movie.

[@ethanhawkins3391]

Excellent video! The editing is on point and the pacing was perfect. Loved the narration here too!

[@toriagalaxy1566]

Loved the movie, and really great break down. Great video

[@devaallen0]

Impressive analysis. Obsessed with this movie, NOPE represents my family dynamic. The dysfunction of life and spectacle. Thank you for the video. Have a wonderful day. ❤❤❤❤

[@abrealgaming5649]

The fact that my disliking of this movie revealed to me that I am just too unintelligent to enjoy it properly. Really was a blow to the heart.

[@b0bminjarez554]

Amazing video. You deserve more views. Shoot keep it up and you will

[@ElektronikGirlEpic]

Awesome video! Nope is one of my all time favourite movie and is always great to hear insightful commentary on it

[@Ruki9410]

10/10 film. 10/10 QC!!! Loved this episode!

[@juansamuelgonzalezsantacru4526]

so SAD that this video did not got the views it deserves

[@bullrun2772]

Yeah I said we see you like film speak have massive views and it’s like these people they do the right way that is the dumbest way possible this is how you do film criticism this is how you do film essay or whatever

[@gracemartin6284]

I think the choice to not try and explain the origins of jean jacket was a really good choice; especially since that was kinda my only crit of Us. I totally get it’s purpose of showing the conditions of the shadows and involvement of the USA government but i felt it also took away some of the horror from mystery

[@brynniefresh9746]

jean jacket actually wasn’t content just eating horses coz there’s reports of missing hikers at the beginning of the movie…so he’s been eating people probably for a while but has stayed in that area…also jupe wasn’t feeding jean jacket in front of patrons that whole time, he just noticed it happening and kept feeding it and planned to have a reveal at the event everyone was eaten…i have a feeling jean jacket sleeps during the day, otherwise idk why he wouldn’t be eating people at jupiter’s claim before, because i think there were at least some people there regularly

[@revelare_xvii6269]

This whole movie feels like a live action anime. Hell some of the shots looks like panels from a manga.

[@diegowushu]

I can't believe I didn't make the Evangelion connection, it seems so obvious now you said it lol. Good movie.

[@jeffbrownstain]

Original movies with Love for the Craft. What a great, possibly-unintentional reference.

[@Jiff321]

“Jordan peele is one of my all time favorite directors” wow a club of 1 lol

[@gabrielfranks1416]

Are you being sarcastic or snarky? I'm confused by the 'lol.' He's among a LOT of peoples' favorite directors so no criticism of your opinion intended, just curious.

[@sfdko3291]

The squares on Jean Jacket are mimicking a camera, no?

[@hurbig]

I don’t like horror movies but after watching this video I went and watched nope and I really enjoyed it.

[@Buritsu]

Wonderful Video Essay!!! Love it! Keep up the Good work.

[@Devil-Made]

NASA is only JUST NOW launching an investigation?!? Great video. :)

[@klaud7311]

Nothing about the film says that the creature is extraterrestrial. We initially assume its visiters from another planet, but soon discover that its not.

[@Platanolocaso]

Actually, we CAN explain why gravity exists. Not gonna do it here because it requires more than a couple of hastily scribbled words on a KZbin comment, but we can explain it and many more things that appear to be "unexplainable"

[@emmazig]

But we can’t, really. We don’t know why. We have some idea of how it works (though that understanding has changed drastically in just the past century) but not why. It’s the same way we don’t know why matter exists. We know how matter interacts to some extent, but we don’t know why or how it came to be in the first place. I think that’s what Peele was trying to get at: we know the rules, but we don’t know why the game exists in the first place. The big picture is the unknown. By the end of the movie, we have some understanding of how the monster works but no wider understanding as to how it came to be.

[@RichmamaTy]

this was a very thought full listen...thank you

[@growingcarnations6488]

Best thing to watch this video during Lunch break!

[@OfficalANBStudiosVA]

You should try doing a video on "The Book Of Life" it's an interesting film and looks like it'll be an interesting film to study. :)

[@enobnala90]

Because it’s comforting compared to reality at this point.

[@katherinealvarez9216]

Cool alien design.

[@chefhosanna]

The movie is, as all Peele’s film are, is allegory. The creature is ‘digital cinema’- digital cinema cameras.

[@uniqueImpulse]

I love that Jean Jacket, from below, looks like a Ten Gallon Hat 💕

[@brynniefresh9746]

i wouldn’t necessarily say that everyone’s first reaction was how can jean jacket benefit me, i think some of them did (like jupe and angel, before he knew he could help people) but oj and emerald are trying to document jean jacket so people will believe them that this is happening…they are trying to warn people about it and they’re also thinking about it logically, like they can’t just call up a camera crew to get a picture they have to learn how to not get killed by it first…i do think oj and emerald have some right to be the ones documenting it considering all their fucking horses are now dead and their dad was killed by it, and that means it’s personal to them because it has negatively affected their lives…jupe sees it as a good miracle that he’s the one to notice it and thinks he is taming it, but his goals were ultimately not pure so he ended up dying…i do feel like the photographer was somewhat pure in his intentions, because he knew he wasn’t going to be able to live through getting the perfect shot, but he did it for himself and wanted to go out on his own terms

[@bonfire1127]

I like the songs in this video

[@pageaxelson5360]

fabulous video. instant follow 😍

[@rottensquid]

I had an interesting experience this weekend going kayaking. All I could reference to compare the experience with was videogames. It's not like I've never been in nature before, I've been camping off and on my whole life. But the crude, false environment of videogames feel designed to create a specific experience, which my brain really latches onto. And now, the actual source experience that inspires those games, in my head, feels weirdly incomplete without sidequests and other gameified elements. I'd say this is a clear indication of my own derangement, but I'm not sure it's that different from any other outdoors experience. Everyone has a way of interfacing with the world. Some categorize the trees, mountains, animals into agreed-upon names. Others measure their endurance, using the environment as a backdrop for that different but equally game-like endeavor. Some try to "commune" with nature, trying to find a way to make the environment mean something about their inner landscape, or vice versa. I think all of these things are equal, and none of them are wrong. What else are we supposed to do with the world but find meaning in it? How else are were supposed to interact? Why should one method be better than another? For me, I want games to be more like real nature, just as much as I want nature to be more like games. That wanting doesn't hurt my experience. It just adds something, a sort of longing for a pure, total experience maybe, that's both the thing and the idea of the thing, the story and the life-experience that inspires the story. I don't know. Some might say that I should just enjoy it instead of thinking about it so hard, but how is thinking about it not the act of enjoying it? All that is to say, what else does one do with spectacle, good or bad, but look at it, take it in, try to understand it? Perhaps the point of the film is the contradiction, that we must look at it to understand it, and understand it to survive it, and yet the act of looking at it puts us in danger. Still trying to wrap my head around the damn film.

[@DevilDogMuNky]

That Akira slide tho!

[@ericjourdain892]

A Japanese movie version of Uzumaki exists. It was titled Spiral in English (go figure!).

[@iantan3214]

exactly. we should put nothing in boxes

[@NicholasMarshall]

4:28 Mick West can help you understand those videos. There isn't anything extraordinary in them. Pilots are not infallible. Just in the last month we had a bunch of pilots confuse Starlink satellites for dog fighting UFOs.

[@thorn-rc9lz]

love your emerald's jesus lizard shirt 👀

[@Kreau]

Ha. "with Love for the Craft."

[@RT-py7ju]

"Why does gravity exist? It just does." Tell me you don't understand physics without telling me you don't understand physics.

[@noatrope]

You're thinking of "how".

[@nescius2]

the gimbal video shows optical artefacts from gimbal mounted camera

[@raynarayskye]

Jean Jacket every comes to the north side he getting lit up on sight

[@bomapdich]

The creature is nota higher form of intelligent, but a higher form of apex predator. And like most predator, humans can hunt and kill them easily.

[@momenhussein4611]

Can I ask how long i took you to study the movie?

[@LadyTygryComics]

For me, the "eye contact" device pulled me out of the story. I understand its inclusion for thematic reasons but for horses, it's just not a thing. Since eye contact can be interpreted as aggressive when it comes to primates, I wish they would have had OJ's family work with a similarly appropriate animal to further this advancement.

[@SkylerLinux]

So yeah the UAP that the US Mil released are so totally not Alien or Unknown

[@simonrowe5380]

Not much mention of Sound - which is how I arrived here ? 🤔

[@jacobnavarro3675]

Jean Jacket is most likely from Earth.

[@Fleischkopf]

we dont even know if gene jacket isnt just a rare animal, that has naruarly evolved on earth. i mean look at octopusses 😂

[@momenhussein4611]

Where did you get that shirt

[@ScottyFang]

God dammit can y’all stop editing your videos so well? I *NEED* audio fodder so I can get things done but I can’t stop watching 😂

[@MatsubaAgeha]

TWO THUMBS UP!!!

[@SteveJubs]

“It was the kind of juxtaposition that was very me, I thought.” 😐

[@jaclyncamacho2420]

Just wait...2023 is coming in a big way

[@unkleskratch]

Nope? nope.

[@chuchojuarez95]

Do it again

[@scottylew802]

All-time? C'mon... Let him prosper before you catapult.

[@benquinneyiii7941]

Horse in motion

[@mortystraphouse5077]

Daniel Kaluuya is a problem

[@christoffer886]

Nope isn't existential horror, it's cosmic horror. The difference is about where the horror comes from, within or outside. If some horror is outside, an entity that is unexplainable, or some vast cosmic fabric outside our sense of spacetime, then that's cosmic horror. Nope emphasizes on our inabilities to makes sense of the universe and in the end we trivialize things down to entertainment. Jordan Peele is a master of taking external concepts (primarily perspectives of African American culture and history) and materialize them into an atmospheric visually stunning explorations of these concepts. Existential horror on the other hand is what Ari Aster, Alex Garland and Brandon Cronenberg does best. It's about how thin the fabric of our mind is. How little it takes to break our sense of control we have over our existence. That horror comes from within, from the fringes of our perception and losing our grip on reality. From the horror of death in Ari Aster's movies, the breaking perception of reality in Alex Garland's Devs, or the identity shattering experience of Brandon Cronenberg's Possessor. Cosmic horror is a horror that can fundamentally be understood, but it's our inability to have an open mind that creates the horror and friction against it. For instance, if we were to realize that the universe and our reality is just a spec of dust in some cosmically larger and different lifeform, that can absolutely be abstractly understood in some form by us. However, it becomes friction against people's ideas about who we are, especially religious concepts. Existential horror comes more from our perception of reality, in which we stop trusting our ability to perceive reality. In essence, cosmic horror maintain our agency over ourself in relation to something unfathomable. Existential horror breaks our agency in relation to the unfathomable. In Nope, no one really fails their own agency, the threat is external, something that with sufficient effort and open mind can be understood. All of this is semantics, but I think it's important to clarify definitions we make in order to be specific in our analysis.